Laughing through the changes and accepting what life has for me after retirement. My elevator might be going down, but I plan to get off on every floor, even if it's just for plumbing supplies.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Mrs. Christmas and the Freaking Tree.

My tree is up and decorated and I am doing OK.Eleven years ago my hubby brought home an 11 foot fir tree for me to decorate. We had just moved into our new home and had a few rooms with 15/20 foot ceilings. He was so sure that I would love this blankety blank monstrosity. My family will tell you that I am very fussy about decorating and spend most of the holidays tweaking the tree until I think it is perfect. Up until then we had always had 6 to 7 foot trees that even though I obsessed about them, I enjoyed trimming. That year I worked on what seemed to be a giant Sequoia planted in my living room, for two nights, crying and cursing all the way. Much of the cursing came when I looked in the other room and saw hubby comfortably ensconced in his old man's chair, sipping on fine wine and enjoying some sporting event on the TV. A line in the sand was drawn then and there.Next year I took hubby (kicking and screaming) into our local big box store and purchased a 7 foot forever tree that we have had ever since. We also bought a carousel stand and when the lights are on, the tree will turn. I just stand there with box of ornaments and let the branches come to me. Life got better.This year I have added something new that I thought would entertain the grandchildren. Yes, it's cheesy and I am sure will become annoying, but right now I am enjoying it. It is a frame shaped ornament that plays carols and whose workings are hooked into the indoor tree's lights. You do, though, have to be polite and say, "Hello Mr. Christmas" and have a conversation with the tree (so what's new about that). Mr. Christmas will play the songs you request and the lights will blink along. My only problem is that my tree is constantly spinning and Mr. Christmas, like many men, does not hear really well and when he is facing another direction, he tunes you out. The first night we connected this acoustic marvel, I saw my husband running around and screaming into the tree, "Mr. Christmas, Mr. Christmas, MISTER CHRISTMAS and no lights went on and no songs were played. In a spirit of the season, he said to me "This damn thing won't work" (and a few other choice words)."Of course, I said, he won't respond to you if you talk to him like that. You have to greet him with a hello, and then he will listen."When greeted properly Mr. Christmas played Joy to the World, and hubby learned that manners can be fun. Fa, la, la!

46 comments:

Priceless! If I had a carousel, my kids would probably rev it to the point the ornaments would come flying off the tree like snow missiles and they would figure out a way to program the current country western/. rock songs oniy.

Oh Arleen, this is so funny! I love that the tree turns in circles waiting to be dressed for Christmas. Your husband's conversation with Mr. Holiday reminds me of a conversation I had with Siri (spelling), the gal on the iPhone. I ask her a question and she was not giving me what I wanted. I told her she was worthless. She came back with, "I'm just trying to help". I can't even yell at a cell phone now. Have a wonderful day!

The kids are going to love that little ornament and yes, it will drive you crazy over time lol. I can just picture your hubs standing there screaming at the freakin' tree.."Mr Christmas, Mr Christmas". What a hoot.

I'm just a simple old fashioned boy. My tree will be cut from the woods on, or around, the 20th, and dressed with very old baubles, tinsel, and traditional Swedish decorations (Lady M is Swedish). It will not turn in circles, nor will it sing back to me when I swear at it. I will probably then ignore it until bonfire time on the 6th Jan.

Mr Christmas could (nearly) motivate me to get into the whole decorate the monster again. While the skinny portion watches TV and criticizes. I love this, and am so, so grateful for the smiles (which are in short supply about Christmas at the moment). Thank you.

DEar Arleen, I loved the picture your words created of your husband running around the room shouting at the tree and trying to elicit a song from Mister Christmas! Thank you for this bubble of happiness within me right now.

Like you, I have a permanent Christmas tree. I hope to get it set up and decorated tomorrow. I enjoy doing that because it's not as big as the tree I used to buy--just like you! And so I gave away about 3/4s of the ornaments I used to have. So now this is doable! Peace.

Just found you today (no, you weren't missing) and have to thank you for the best laugh in a long time. Without being Debbie Downer, I love Christmas and decorating my home. This year however I'm not doing anything as our oldest daughter passed away unexpectedly in June. OK, thanks again for the laugh and will become a follower.

What a fun post. I can just picture you cussing at that eleven-foot tree, not to mention his nibs relaxing in the other room while you were wrestling with the darned thing. Mr. Christmas sounds like a hoot. The grandkids will get a kick out of it. I hope it doesn't get to be as annoying as that singing so-and-so fish...

Your tree is beautiful. I can't help think that if one didn't know about the carousel and had imbibed a few too many ... Every year I try to convince my husband that a permanent Christmas tree would be such a good idea -- he will, however, have none of it.

OMG you're hilarious... and I can certainly relate to glancing over and seeing The Man sitting comfortably in his Recliner, Remote in hand & watching some NCIS Marathon or Sporting Event whilst I get Bohemian Valhalla in Order! *LOL*

I found your blog today via Living Life. I can tell you are a kindred spirit. My husband and son used to have an annual fight over the placement of garland on the tree. One a perfectionist, the other not. Many is the year I could have happily picked up the tree, however big, and set about them in a frenzy of exasparation. Now I happily decorate the tree on my own, although the perfectionist still inspects it on the sly.

My Story, as of now

It's been six years now since I retired and you would think I would be through the "adjustment period". Some days I am, and others I am not. I like to think I have reinvented myself, however, rust keeps appearing around the edges. Aging is a surprise to me as I thought I would always be young. But life moves on and as I plod forward, I find that there are many more adventures and joys to be had. They just may take a little more effort to find, but heck, I have the time.